volume 4

32 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. III.
many things to judge of actions whether they were really good or
evil, praiseworthy or to be condemned, and in all things of the
intentions with which and the ends for which they were done how
;
much more benefit may be obtained from the consideration of those
records of times past, which as they were delivered unto us by persons
divinely preserved from all error and mistake in their writings, so
they deliver the judgment of God himself, to whom all intentions
and ends are open and naked, concerning the actions which they do
report! Besides, the design of human story is but to direct the
minds of men in things just and honest with reference unto political
society and the good of community in this world, with respect
whereunto alone it judgeth of the actions of men and their events;
but all things in the Scriptures of the Old Testament are directed
unto a higher end, , even
the pleasing of God and the eternal
fruition of him. They are therefore, with the examples recorded
in them, of singular and peculiar use as materially considered. But
this is not all. The things contained in them were all of them de
signed of God for our instruction, and yet do continue as an especial
way of teaching. The things done of old were, as Justin Martyr
"
fore-declarations of the
speaks, vpox^pvy^ara ruv xaTct, \piarov,
things of Christ." And Tertullian, to the same purpose, "Scimus ut
vocibus, ita rebus prophetatum;" "Prophecy or prediction consisted
in things as well as words." And Chrysostom, Serm. ii., de Jejun.,
distinguisheth between prophecy by speech or words, and prophecy
by examples or actions.
Our apostle expressly treateth of this subject, 1 Cor. x. Con
sidering the state of the people, in their deliverance from Egypt
and abode in the wilderness, he refers the things relating unto them
to two heads ; 1. God s miraculous works towards them, and
marvellous dealings with them ; 2. Their sins and miscarriages,
with the punishments that befell them. Having
of the first sort, he adds, Tat/ra tit TWO/ qpuv eytWjdyaav,
mentioned those
" Now
these were all our examples," verse 6, types representing God s
spiritual dealing with us. And having reckoned up the other, he
closeth his report of them with Tavra 81 iravra. rvvot euvi^amov
exttvois, They befell them, that God in them might represent unto
us what we are to expect, if we sin and transgress in like manner/
They and their actions were our types. TVKO$, "a type/ hath many
significations. In this use of it, it signifies a rude and imperfect
expression of any thing, in order to a full, clear, and exact declara
tion of it. So Aristotle useth ira^uXug xai us h r-j-u in opposition
to axpiZ>$ liopittiv, a general and imperfect description, to an exact
distinction. Thus they were our types, in that the matter of our
faith, obedience, rewards, and punishments, were delineated aforehand
in them.